Storms cause damage across wide swath of Montana

August 2, 2013

HELENA (AP) — Strong thunderstorms that moved across Montana left a trail of damage to crops and buildings along with downed trees and power outages.

The worst damage from Thursday's storm may have occurred in Gallatin County, where winds gusting up to 89 mph devastated wheat and barley crops that likely would have been harvested next week, Montana Grain Growers Vice President Matt Flikkema said.

"I've never seen crop damage to the extent we have here in the valley," Flikkema said Friday. "There are very little crops that will be harvested out of the area."